Atletico Madrid plans 200 China stores

Feb 17, 2015Updated May 14, 20251 min read

La Liga football league champions Atletico Madrid are set to cash in on growing Chinese fascination of European football by opening a retail store network in China.

Atletico Madrid will open 200 retail outlets in China, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Such a network would be considerably larger than other football teams’ retail presence in China. Manchester United, Chelsea, Real, FC Barcelona and Arsenal all have a presence, on differing scales.

The stores will be opened in Wanda Malls, owned by Chinese businessman Wang Jianlin, who took a 20 per cent stake in the Spanish club earlier this year.

The club sees the stores as an important tool to broaden its brand awareness in Asia.

Atletico already has a deal with Chinese football club Shanghai Shenhua and trains a number of Chinese youngsters as part of ‘Project Wanda’ to help develop young footballers.

Atletico is expected to tour China between seasons.

Tags

About the author

Mei Ling Tan

Contributor · RetailNews.asia

Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

Asia's retail intelligence, in your inbox